ROWETT’S MEN RIPPED APART

of losing his first game in charge of a club dragged on as the promotion favourites were blown away. Bielsa’s brand of highoctane football delighted the 34,126 crowd, many of whom will have headed home convinced Leeds’ 15-year Premier League exile will end with the feted Argentine in charge.

But the 63-year-old is playing down talk of promotion, insisting there is still plenty of room for improvement. “It is too soon to be making any analysis. Our players were very ambitious and put in a great physical effort,’’ said Bielsa.

“Some moments were very good but at times we played too close to our own goal and gave the ball away. But my team took risks when moving the ball and their productivity was high.”

Bielsa could afford to keep £10million striker Patrick Bamford on the bench, starting 10 of the players already at the club when he took over in June.

But Rowett (right) admitted the Championship had proved quite a culture shock for a club who had spent the past decade in the top flight.

“Leeds were quicker and more dynamic,” he said. “It was a tough afternoon for us.

“One or two players were surprised by the intensity and did not do their jobs well enough.

“It is a different type of football because it’s at you all the time and there’s an incredible pace. That was nowhere near the standard required to do well in this division.”